How do I get the humidity down safely??

[newchickenfamily]

OK, bear with me, I'm new at this. Got our FIRST pip

, JUST NOW noticed the pip! There are a few others rockin' and rollin' and peeping.

We are on Day 19. I took them out of the turner last night (on day 18) and upped the humidity. I think it's too high! Close to 83-85%. I put a very small amount of warm water in and it shot up from 55%. How can I safely lower the hum without messing with the 'bator too much?? I KNOW you are not supposed to open/touch it all at this point.

BTW: I have a Hova Bator 1588.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I'd leave it alone. When they start pipping the shell and hatching the humidity level goes up anyway. Thats my thought!

 

[Chicken Woman]

take out vent plugs

 

[Akane]

Remove the vent plugs and if it stays really high crack the bator for a split second to vent some. I've had later hatching ones drown while the humidity spiked for earlier hatching ones so I wouldn't just leave it. As more hatch it's only going to climb or stay the same.

 

[Laskaland]

Good ideas...Also, know that once they actually hatch, it will increase as well. The stuff in t he eggs will shoot it up. You should be okay, because it will stabilize again
Good luck!! How exciting The first HATCH!!!

Christina

 

[newchickenfamily]

So nerve-wracking, but soooo exciting!!

OK, I'll leave it alone. If the hum goes much higher, I'll crack the vent plug... Thanks guys!

ETA: I should probably just keep my hands off! Thankfully, we are leaving to go to a 4-H meeting, so I will be forced to leave the 'bator on it's own for awhile!!

 

[Rufflemyfeathers]

My Red Sex Link are now hatching of the 8 Three have hatched little bit ago..

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

just so you know, 80-85% is actually what you want to shoot for in the final days! Wouldnt hurt to have it higher than 55% dureing the main incubation period either, humidity is what helps fascilate the weight loss of the egg during incubation . We run at 75 - 80 % then bump up to 85-90% for the last 3 days
If not, the chicks will stick to the inside of the shell and die if you arent careful.
I use some hovabators too, and as long as there is no condensation on the see threw windows, leave it closed up!!!!
If and only if the condensation apears, pull the vent plugs, or once all have hatched pull the plugs so they can all dry out.
Good luck, and I am sorry, but you're going to be an addict now.
They are like crack, all it takes is one good round of hatching and you're hooked, sounds like it's too late for you now! LOL
Aubrey

 

[Akane]

Sorry but that's backward. Too high of humidity will decrease water loss and cause the air cells to be too small, too much water to stay in the egg, and the egg to weigh more. Lower humidity will increase moisture lost and lower the weight of the egg. Most people find 80-85% way too high and I lost most of my chicks in a hatch that got that high during hatching time.

At 85% the water should be dripping off the windows of a hovabator. If it's not then the humidity is not that high and your gauge is probably off.

 

[Fudgie]

Me too Akane! I like 65%, not too sticky not too dry! They seem to make it out ok and if they get stuck it is not too bad and I can always help em out